Jeremy Dawson (left), Anurag Srivastava, Evan Bays, Hannah Anderson, Pedro Mago, and Paul Kreider mark the opening of the IDEMIA NSS Biometrics Lab with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (WVU Statler College Photo)
Students at the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University will have access to even greater learning opportunities thanks to the opening of the state-of-the-art IDEMIA National Security Solutions Biometrics Lab, a hub for research, teaching and innovation within the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
The IDEMIA NSS Biometrics Lab, located in the Advanced Engineering Research Building, was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 25. University leaders, faculty, alumni, students and representatives from IDEMIA NSS gathered to mark the launch of the facility, highlighting the importance of experiential learning through university and industry partnerships.
“It’s awesome to have a dedicated space for data collection and understanding how to identify someone using contactless fingerprints or how to do facial recognition at a distance to identify a potential threat,” said Evan Bays, IDEMIA Vice President of Engineering and DOJ Operations and Statler College alumnus. “When I was a student, having a lab like this would have definitely prepared me to understand the industry, what the expectations are in terms of work environment and what is possible with data activities and research within the facility.”
The lab will be used for coursework, student-led projects and outreach efforts, expanding opportunities for hands-on learning and innovative research in biometrics, identity and access technologies. Students in the Lane Department will have the opportunity to work directly with cutting-edge tools, preparing them to tackle national and global security challenges.
“Having access to the latest industry technologies is an excellent advantage to my professional career,” said Evan Garrett, graduate student in electrical engineering. “Getting to work with the products available will allow me to have knowledge and experience with real-world applications of this technology.”
“Employing state of the art technology and performing evaluations on these systems will help me to develop ideas for research that greatly benefit the biometrics community as a whole,” said Hannah Anderson, graduate student of electrical engineering. “Access to high-end computers, high performing biometrics matchers and engaging with other like-minded students will strongly encourage high quality and innovative work.”
The IDEMIA NSS Biometrics Lab was made possible through a gift from IDEMIA National Security Solutions, a leader in identity-related security services for government and private clients. The company’s contribution supported infrastructure upgrades and provided in-kind access to the latest cutting-edge tools such as the market-leading MorphoWave contactless fingerprint device, a mobile biometric capture app and advanced multimodal biometric matching software.
The University’s relationship with IDEMIA NSS stems from Bays' connection to WVU, where he earned his biometrics systems bachelor’s degree in 2004. Today, he leads the company's Applied Biometric Center of Excellence in Morgantown, continuing to strengthen ties between IDEMIA NSS and the University.
“The company has made a 10-year-old investment to be here in Morgantown and continue our partnership not only with WVU but with students directly and our customers in the area,” said Bays. “It’s definitely a mutually beneficial relationship. I’ve hired several students here in Morgantown from the biometrics lab and they’re a great part of the team. We look forward to sustaining and supporting that talent pipeline from our business standpoint, and for other businesses and agencies in West Virginia.”